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NATIONAL Under-17 team Chief Coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has called on football loving Nigerians not to castigate the Golden Eaglets on their embarrassing performance against Guinea in the third place match at the just concluded African U-17 Championship hosted by Niger Republic.

Speaking to The Guardian on the team’s arrival in Nigeria Monday, Amuneke said his wards needed more encouragement and support to excel in the game, revealing that he was yet to come to terms with the result the Golden Eaglets got in the game against South Africa and Guinea.

According to Amuneke, the Golden Eaglets fought like wounded lions to outshine their opponents, but luck was not on their side.

The former Barcelona of Spain player, however, accepted that there were still some lapses to be corrected in the team ahead of the World Cup billed to hold in Chile later in the year.

Although the Eaglets failed to win the cadet championship, Amuneke still praised God for assisting the team book the ticket to the World Cup and assured that Nigeria would excel in the world championship.

“I don’t understand why people would be castigating the Eaglets over the result they got in the third place match. These boys are young boys, who need support and encouragement to be at the peak of their career.

“They played well in the championship, but luck was not on their side. This does not mean there are no lapses in some departments in the team. As we progress, I will look at the defects in the team and work to build a stronger team ahead of the World Cup,” he said.

According to Amuneke, “Not winning a medal in the Republic of Niger does not mean the players are not reliable. If I were not encouraged when I started playing football, I would not have had the chance to represent the national team at the highest level. These lads need the best assistance to raise their game. When the world championship kicks off in Chile by October Nigerians will see a different team.”

He revealed that the Eaglets have been decamped pending when the NFF will open the camp again for the World Cup preparations.